Farmhouse killings: Cops get custody of Namdhari’s guard

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS) Sacked Uttarakhand Minorities Commission chief Sukhdev Singh Namdhari’s security officer, arrested for the murder of liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother Hardeep, was Tuesday sent to three days’ police custody by a court here.

Metropolitan Magistrate Neha sent Namdhari’s personal security officer Sachin Tyagi, 27, to three days’ police custody and posted the matter for Dec 7.

“It is submitted that sustained custodial interrogation (of Tyagi) is required to unearth the entire sequence of event and conspiracy and for recovery of the weapon. In view of the submissions made in the application for recovery of other weapons, the accused is remanded to three days police custody,” the court said.

Tyagi, an Uttarakhand Police constable, was arrested here Monday for his alleged role in the conspiracy that led to the murders of Ponty and Hardeep at a farmhouse here last month.

Police told the court that Tyagi had also fired at the liquor baron’s brother and his police custody was required to unearth the conspiracy and the sequence of the shootout.

Investigators said Tyagi allegedly destroyed evidence. “He removed a pistol and ammunition of the weapon used in the offence and was actively involved in the trespass (at the farmhouse),” said the prosecution counsel.

The probe agency submitted that Tyagi himself disclosed his involvement in the conspiracy of trespass and he along with Namdhari had shot at Hardeep as per a plan of Namdhari and Ponty.

Assistant Commissioner of Police S.P. Gupta, seeking Tyagi’s custody, informed the court that Tyagi and Namdhari killed Hardeep and, thereafter, the Tyagi removed the weapon used in the crime from the spot and destroyed the evidence.

Tyagi had failed to perform his duty because instead of informing police about the plot, he took part in the act and fired at Hardeep, police said.

Advocate Ranbir Singh, appearing for Tyagi, opposed the prosecution plea for his client’s remand for three days, saying his client had cooperated with police since the day of the shootout and his custodial interrogation was not required.

Tyagi has been charged with criminal conspiracy and other offences, a police officer said.

Earlier, Namdhari was arrested on charges of allegedly murdering Hardeep while six others were taken into custody on charges of trespass. Namdhari, now in police custody, would be presented in court Wednesday.

During investigations, Tyagi told police that he fired at Hardeep with his official weapon. He was attached with Namdhari in January.

Ponty and his brother were killed at a farmhouse in Chhattarpur in south Delhi in a shootout Nov 17.

IANS 2012-12-04 20:44:15